Why spend the evening of Sept. 1 on your own? ABC can help make it a night to remember; all you need to do is invite a few friends over to watch “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” and take these hints from Planit Nashville, the event planning and promotions company based in Music City, on how to make it a party to remember.

source: brendasweddingblog.com

Décor
• Ask guests to dress in the fashion of their favorite artists. And since this is “Country’s Night to Rock,” layer your invitation with Country-inspired graphics, electric guitars and a little rock ‘n’ roll imagery to boot.

• Decorate your buffet table and gathering areas with pictures, CDs and any other items that say “Country” loud and clear.

• Go retro for your food and beverage centerpiece, with three different Western-style boots. Place a small vase inside the boot to fill with water. Add daisies, sunflowers or any flower of your choice.

• Use dollar frames to insert pictures of artists next to their song lyrics or classic quotes (i.e., “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!” – Dolly Parton).

Food/Beverage
• Take classic down-home food and give it an upscale twist (i.e., pulled pork BBQ in a filo tart shell topped with a sprig of cilantro or smoked gouda cheese grits, served in shot glasses).

• Choose a signature drink, such as Lynchburg lemonade or whiskey sweet tea. Serve them in martini glasses with a lemon twist. Or how about these options, courtesy of 8 Lavender Lane Catering (www.8lavenderlane.com)?

Be sure to offer festive non-alcoholic alternatives to the signature drinks – and encourage guests to drink responsibly and come with designated driver.

source: store.drumbum.com

Games• Choose two or three easy-to-learn line dances to teach during pre-show or commercial breaks. Draw two or three artist names out of a hat. When they perform, guests have to jump up and perform one of the line dances.

• Create a playlist to play “Name That Tune.” Give the winner a CD by one of their favorite artists or an iTunes gift card.

Party Favors• Create a glitzy Country-rock themed backdrop and take digital pictures of guests in front of it. Print pictures on photo paper and insert in a magnetic picture frame (decorated with the date and party theme, if you’re industrious) and send it home with each guest.

• Rent a champagne fountain and run your specialty beverage through it for a bit more glam and wow factor ($50-$75), highboy tables ($10 each) and a few linens ($12-$14). Pick it up, set it up and plug it in!

• Call a caterer! It saves time and cost and is worth every penny on a weeknight. Have them drop food in disposables at your door – and you take all the credit!

source: ourweddingplus.com, minted.com

For your party needs, as well as for events-based marketing and corporate events in the Nashville area, contact Planit Nashville, PlanitNashville.com, (615) 506-2876.